Lifesaving help by phone

New app connects EMTs, patient information to hospitals.

MISHAWAKA -- Paramedics who are often first on the scene of an accident understand the challenges of quickly obtaining the medical information they need to care for the victim.

Medical conditions.

Allergies.

Prescriptions.

But now area residents can download a free new smartphone application that was introduced Wednesday by Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center that allows them to store this kind of lifesaving information for emergencies.

The application is called ICE (In Case of Emergency) and it is now available for Apple and Android phones at http://www.theiceapp.com.

This technology will allow first responders to quickly review pertinent medical history on the scene and with the push of a button send the information to participating hospital emergency rooms in St. Joseph, Elkhart and Marshall counties, as well as southeastern Michigan.

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"If we're looking at 20 medicines in someone's medicine cabinet, they might only be taking one or two," said Andrew Myer, assistant chief of South Bend Fire and Emergency Medical Services. "An emergency is a stressful, emotional time and people often aren't thinking properly, so I absolutely think this will be helpful."

Additional medical information also can be stored on the application, including names and numbers of primary physicians and specialists, emergency personal contact information, and a 60-second voice message.

For individuals without smartphones, ICE Michiana tubes are now available in more than 60 locations across the area. The long plastic tube containing copies of important documents and instructions should be placed inside the refrigerator and an ICE magnet placed on the door.

Check the website to view the list of locations.

Marcia Hassinger, of Niles, downloaded ICE on her Droid hours after the application was announced. It was developed by local brand development and marketing firm Force 5.

"I think it's a great idea and hope it catches on, especially for people who have a chronic illness who need medications regularly," Hassinger said. "I happen to have a chronic illness, so I listed my doctors, medications, and allergies."

"My dad was in his closing moments, in my sister's arms, and EMS is on its way," Gutierrez said. "And my sister calls and asks me, 'Where are the documents?' Because my dad did not want to be resuscitated. He was 93 and those were his wishes. There was this mad scramble (to find them)."

Gutierrez held up his wallet to illustrate another point about the challenges first responders often face in quickly locating critical information to a victim.

"If I had an incident at the mall, somewhere in here is my organ donor card, and somewhere in here is my list of medications and somewhere in here is my driver's license," Gutierrez said.

"While men in uniform would be trying to take care of me, they'd have to fish through my American Express card, my Notre Dame Federal Credit Union card, my AAA card, and my Men's Wearhouse preferred customer card. Somewhere in there is the information they need to know about me," he said.

Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center will not profit from the downloading process or usage of the ICE application.

The technology was developed through a grant received from the Foundation at Saint Joseph Regional. Hospital officials said the total cost for developing the program over the past 12 months has not been determined or revealed.

Guterriez stressed that the process of obtaining and sharing the information via ICE on the scene of an accident or at a patient's home will not take any time away from emergency responders caring for that person.

"The issue of who does what is a function of incident command on the scene and usually (certain) individuals will be associated with gathering information. It's not necessarily the initial caregivers looking for a pocketbook or wallet," he said.

Training is already in process; Myer said his paramedics have already started learning how to use the new application launched Wednesday. All residents are encouraged to download the app or pick up a refrigerator tube, and all hospitals in the Michiana region are invited to participate.

In time, Gutierrez hopes ICE could become a statewide program in Indiana and expand its reach in Michigan. Its growth will depend on participation levels from area residents, first responders and hospitals.

"You have to have trained individuals to 'push,' and you have to have trained hospitals to 'catch' " the information, Gutierrez said.

A commercial has been filmed to educate consumers about the application and its potential lifesaving usage.

The level of participation -- Gutierrez believes 100,000-plus users is not out of reach -- will allow hospital officials to lobby Apple Co. for a separate emergency code to allow medical personnel to access the ICE application even if an individual's phone is locked.

The app currently works with Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Elkhart General and St. Joseph hospitals in Marshall County and southeastern Michigan. Other physician networks, EMS and fire departments also are connected with the new app.